If you have a thin kitchen space, this layout is perhaps your most efficient layout. In between your two walls, you would have a single traffic lane with an opening on one end or even both ends. A galley may be as long as you may wish; all you need to do is divide the place into several work sites.
Whether it's a new galley plan or an old one, consider the following tips and ideas:
Gallery Planning
Before you even start, you must have full confidence in your design plan. Identify the places where you desire to position particular fixtures or appliance and take quality time in planning - never rush the planning aspect. Find and engage the right tradespeople, people who are experienced and you can easily and freely communicate with.
Because getting trusted experts can be challenging, make sure you get credible references and follow them up. Ensure they have the necessary trade licences for your specific kitchen job. You can visit a number of websites dedicated to home improvement services and view the kind of feedback they receive and also read their recommended sections.
For example, Australia's top-selling kitchen publication, the Kitchens & Bathrooms Quarterly is an excellent resource as it showcases an extensive variety of ideas, new products and company profiles.
Golden Triangle Layout Rule
Getting the most optimal kitchen layout is all about functionality and practicality. It's all about having every single thing where it's supposed to be and where you can easily access it. It is what kitchen designers refer to as ergonomics, normally achieved with the Golden Triangle concept. This is whereby you position the kitchen sink, cooktop (oven/ stove) and fridge in a format that forms a triangle.
Kitchen Storage
As much as is possible, utilize every available kitchen space. Also cut down on clutter and try to create a safe working environment. In your gallery layout design, you can include overhead cabinets going right to the ceiling and deep drawers for storing your cooking pots.
Good Ventilation
Nothing could be as displeasing as being met by the smell of last night's food as you enter a house. Proper ventilation of your kitchen can greatly help in averting this social disaster besides being an important safety measure.
Gallery Lighting
Your kitchen needs good light sources. Therefore, don't neglect to light up areas around the cooktop and oven with overhead lighting fixtures. Although pendants seem to be the trendy thing today, you may consider installing good quality fluorescents as they produce more even lighting for the entire gallery.
As a final parting tip, if you have an old-fashioned gallery layout, you may consider an upgrade. Don't shy away from this, since you won't be the first one to it: according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), as early as 1999, 62% of households in Australia were actually living in dwellings which had seen one form of renovation during the previous ten (10) years.
